World of Bluegrass

"The Ballad of 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown'" will address the role of the unendingly popular banjo instrumental in pushing American traditional music into the second half of the 20th century. With New Deal String Band banjo player Gene Knight on hand to offer illustrations on an historically correct pre-war Mastertone, we'll talk about the roots of the tune, its recording 65 years ago this December, its roof-raising reception through the years, the way it wound up in the classic movie "Bonnie and Clyde," its status as the only tune to win two Grammys by the same performer, along with Earl Scruggs' own reflections on FMB, preserved from an exclusive interview by the speaker.